Inspired, A Very Special Project | Kate T. Parker Photography

I am absolutely thrilled about this week’s feature. I only recently found Kate’s work the past year or so. I found her via some submissions for my Project 52 I host every week and I always found I was drawn right into her photographs. The way she documented reality with a hint of whimsy. The moody gorgeous processing, her amazing perspective. I just swoon. I could get lost in her work. She is a new favorite of mine and I truly hope that some day our paths cross because I am totally smitten with her and her photography!! I can’t wait to show her off so we will get right into it!!

You can find Kate on Pinterest HERE, her Website HERE and her Facebook page HERE.

Hello Love!!

Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

Okay, that is crazy hard. (Does that count as one?) I love to laugh, it is my favorite thing to do, ever. I love my family, they’re everything to me. If I don’t sweat once a day (running, playing sports, etc.) I go a little bit cuckoo.

What sparked your passion for Photography?

the birth of my girls. I am no scrapbooker, so I took lots of pictures. Lots. Plus, I have a terrible memory, so I wanted to remember them as they were/are.

Whats in your camera bag?

My Nikon D700/a D3000 backup camera, just in case. My lens baby composer pro, 85mm/50mm/28mm lenses. Two speedlights, a Gary Fong Diffuser, a box of memory cards, extra batteries. Tums, advil, business cards, sharpie, Trish McEvoy lip gloss.

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

Nikon D3000 and a 50mm/1.8 (and the kit zoom lens)

If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?

I love my 50mm/1.4….I use that 80% of the time.

What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?

Shoot a ton. Do a 365 project. You learn so much from that. Find your style. It will change, evolve, go with it. Enjoy!

What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?

I love Rosina W. Photography and Sarah of Image Bearers Photography. When I first saw their work, it made me see that there was a way to shoot in a different way and still be able to sustain a business.

What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?

Black and Whites. Weird, arty images. I love fine art work and am trying to learn more and more about it.

If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?

My grandmother. My youngest looks exactly like her as a child and I would have loved to do a portrait of the two of them together.

Describe your style in 3 words.

moody, unexpected, quirky.

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

I am forever forgetting people’s names….call people by the wrong names all. the. time. I feel like such an idiot when I do it, now I try to go with the more generic “mom” and “dad” to avoid it.

Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?

It is not a challenge, per se, but right now, I am torn between so many things (portrait work, personal projects, wedding work). I love all of them, but am not sure how they will all “work” together. Do I have to be just one? Can I do all three? Is it too confusing for clients, etc.? Something that is on my mind lately. I want a cohesive look to my work and worry that it might seem disjointed with so many different kinds of images. Any advice is welcomed!

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

sunset, for sure.

If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?

Be a full time mom to my girls.

Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?

Nope. Self taught, save for a Digital 101 class a couple years ago.

What do you do to get your clients to relax with you?

I talk. Ask them about themselves. This is one of my favorite things about sessions, learning about families and getting to know them on a different level.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

I really want to explore more fine art work. I am working on some personal projects that deal with that and really loving it. Would love to expand my wedding work, too.

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning?Any Big Aha! Moments?

I did a portfolio critique (Stacie Turner) a while back (and have another scheduled in a couple weeks) and it was amazing. It really changed how I look at my work. Just another set of eyes telling you what your strengths, weaknesses, etc. is invaluable.

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

My Photoshop skills leave a lot to be desired. I am a total Lightroom girl.

Digital or Prints?

Do you mean what do I sell to clients? My packages are all digital. As a mom, I want my greedy hands on those images digitally, so, that is the business model I went with.

How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

I don’t really try to compete. What I do is not for everyone and I am 100% okay with that. I want the clients that want the kind of work I do, not the clients that just want pictures taken.

What do you think your next photography related investment will be?

So hard! I need a better back up camera (or first camera, D800?), would love underwater housing, thinking of an in home studio set up. Anonymous donor, anyone? 😉

If you had to recommend ONE thing that a photographer needs in their camera bag what would that be?

hmm…I really LOVE my shoot sac. Not something that I keep in my bag, but using it on shoots changed how I shoot. I just toss all my lenses in there and leave the big bag at the door. More optionality with it, for sure.
What would you say your biggest muse is? My daughters, definitely. They are really good models for me. I have to pay them now, but a few tootsie rolls here and there never hurt anyone.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color: pink.
Favorite Season: fall, for sure.
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: cookie dough, brownie batter, anything sugary and laced with salmonella is definitely on its way to making me sick.
Pet Peeve: that hocking sound that (usually) guys make when they spit. bleh.
Favorite Pandora Station: gerry rafferty radio or avert brothers to edit/foo fighters or “getting jiggly with it” radio to work out
Studio or On location: location
What did you want to be when you grew up? i wanted to work in tv, which i did before having my girls. ask me about my internship at “geraldo”. 🙂
One thing no one knows about you is: i still sleep with my “blankie” that my grandmother made for me.
Pc or Mac: mac
Lightroom Or Photoshop: 90%LR/and PS when needed.
Film or Digital: Digital, although just bought “Film is Not Dead” and really want to try it out…
Props or No Props: Generally, no props for client work, but for personal work, I like them, sometimes.
If you could travel anywhere it would be: Bora Bora/Ireland
Glass Half Empty or Half Full: full!
Favorite photo ever taken: Wow. This is so hard. I really love two of the ones I’ve included (the one of my husband and daughter almost kissing/the one of my daughter looking angry from above with her hair all around her). I always come back to those two.

Raw or Jpeg:raw
Favorite Music to Edit to: seventies am gold. 🙂 gerry rafferty, fleetwood mac, seals and croft, whatever pandora throws my way.
Favorite Quote: “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Most valued material possession: my camera.
Processing Style: dramatic black and whites, clean for color
Coffee or Tea: neither. diet sunkist for me.
If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be? dave grohl/will ferrell
What kind of Camera bag do you rock? epiphanie to carry to shoots and a shoot sac at the shoots.